A flexible energy storage connector

Abstract

This application provides a flexible flatbed energy storage connector, comprising: a plug housing with a through-hole, a transversely arranged crossbeam fixed to the inner wall of the hole; a flexible flatbed with connectors at both ends; and a retainer fixed to the connectors; wherein the connectors are plate-shaped, and one of the inner wall of the hole and the outer wall of the retainer is provided with an elastic buckle, and the other is provided with a limiting groove; when the connector is inserted from back to front into the hole and fully inserted, the elastic buckle engages with the limiting groove to restrict the connector from moving backward, and the crossbeam is located directly in front of the connector, with the connector abutting against the crossbeam. The flexible flatbed energy storage connector of this invention allows for easy assembly by simply pushing the module into the hole of the plug housing, improving assembly efficiency. When disassembly is required, the flexible flatbed assembly can be pulled out of the plug housing by simply prying the elastic buckle away from the limiting hole on the retainer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to connector technology, and more particularly to a flexible energy storage connector. Background Technology

[0002] The description in this section provides only background information related to the disclosure of this invention and does not constitute prior art.

[0003] In existing technologies, flexible busbar connectors are commonly used in series and parallel connections of energy storage battery systems. They are essential components in the charging and discharging process of battery systems to achieve high current transmission. In traditional energy storage connection solutions, the flexible busbar is pushed into the plug housing to a predetermined position, and then the metal socket assembly and related plastic parts are riveted for fixation to achieve electrical conduction and mechanical locking.

[0004] like Figure 7-9 The diagram shows a conventional flexible connector, comprising a flexible connector 5, with flexible connector terminals 51 formed at both ends. Cylindrical socket terminals 71 are pressed onto the flexible connector terminals 51, and the socket terminals 71 and flexible connector terminals 51 are fixed together by laser welding. Anti-touch finger rods 76 are pressed into the socket terminals 71, assembling a terminal assembly. A housing 72 is provided outside the terminal assembly, and a tail cap 77 is installed at the tail of the housing 72. The tail cap 77 and the housing 72 are sealed by a sealing ring 78. A pressure cap 75 is provided at the front end of the terminal assembly. The connector also includes an adapter terminal 74, which is covered by a second rubber housing 73. One end of the adapter terminal 74 is inserted into the cylindrical socket terminal 71, and the other end is a sheet. Because the connection ends of the socket terminal 71 and the adapter terminal 74 are both annular structures, they are prone to eccentricity under stress, leading to poor temperature rise. Furthermore, since the housing and the adapter terminal 74 are molded together with rubber, the entire assembly must be replaced if it burns out.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a new type of flexible flat cable connector with a simple and detachable structure to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0006] It should be noted that the above description of the technical background is only for the purpose of providing a clear and complete explanation of the technical solutions of the present invention and facilitating understanding by those skilled in the art. It should not be assumed that the above technical solutions are known to those skilled in the art simply because they have been described in the background section of this invention. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a flexible flat cable connector.

[0008] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a flexible energy storage connector, comprising: a plug housing with a through-hole, wherein a transverse beam is fixed to the inner wall of the through-hole; a flexible strip with connectors at both ends; and a retainer fixed to the connectors; wherein the connectors are plate-shaped, and one of the inner wall of the through-hole and the outer wall of the retainer is provided with an elastic buckle, and the other is provided with a limiting groove; when the connector is inserted from back to front into the through-hole and is fully inserted, the elastic buckle engages with the limiting groove to restrict the connector from moving backward, and the beam is located directly in front of the connector.

[0009] Preferably, the joint abuts against the crossbeam.

[0010] Preferably, the retaining member includes two clamping units that snap together vertically. The two clamping units are interlocked and fixed to the connector by a cooperating concave-convex structure. The two limiting grooves are respectively provided on the two clamping units. The elastic buckle is provided on the inner wall of the insertion hole, and the elastic buckle is configured to disengage from the limiting groove when pried.

[0011] Preferably, the insertion hole is provided with two horizontally extending and vertically arranged elastic beams, and the elastic buckle is provided on the elastic beams. The elastic buckle has a guide slope facing the insertion direction and a locking straight surface facing the withdrawal direction. When the connector is inserted into the insertion hole from the rear and enters between the two elastic beams, the guide slope of the elastic buckle contacts and is squeezed by the retainer, causing the elastic beam to undergo elastic deformation. When the connector is inserted into place, the elastic beam returns to its original position, the elastic buckle is engaged in the limiting groove of the retainer, and the locking straight surface abuts against the edge of the limiting groove to restrict the connector from moving backward.

[0012] Preferably, the connector is provided with a groove, and the retainer is engaged in the groove.

[0013] Preferably, the two sides of the connector are recessed inward to form the groove. Each plate clamp unit is provided with a protrusion and a slot on both sides of the lateral direction. The upper and lower plate clamp units are connected by the mutual engagement of the protrusion and the slot (23). The protrusion and the slot are both accommodated in the groove.

[0014] Preferably, a crossbeam is provided horizontally inside the socket. When the connector is inserted into the socket and fully inserted, the front end of the connector abuts against the crossbeam to restrict the connector from moving further forward.

[0015] Preferably, the flexible strip is further fitted with a sealing ring and a tail cap, the tail cap covering the tail of the plug housing, and the sealing ring being pressed between the plug housing and the tail cap.

[0016] Preferably, the tail cap includes a limiting part sleeved on the outside of the flexible tube, and an elastic sidewall disposed on the outer periphery of the limiting part. The elastic sidewall has a tail cap retaining hole, and the outer wall of the plug housing is provided with a tail buckle. When the tail cap is closed on the tail end of the plug housing, the limiting part is inserted into the socket, the elastic sidewall is located outside the outer wall of the connector housing, the tail buckle is engaged in the tail cap retaining hole, and the sealing ring is squeezed between the elastic beam and the front end of the limiting part.

[0017] By employing the above technical solutions, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The flexible flatbed energy storage connector of this invention first pre-installs the tail cap on the flexible flatbed, then pre-installs the sealing ring on the heat-shrink tubing of the flexible flatbed, and finally clamps the retainer onto the connector of the flexible flatbed assembly, forming an integral pre-assembled module. During assembly, simply push this module into the socket of the plug housing to complete the installation, improving assembly efficiency. When disassembly is required, simply pry the elastic clip to disengage it from the limiting hole on the retainer to pull the flexible flatbed assembly out of the plug housing. In the event of the flexible flatbed burning out due to temperature rise, only the flexible flatbed needs to be replaced, unlike existing technologies that require replacing the entire flexible flatbed, socket terminals, and housing together.

[0018] The connector in this application is plate-shaped. Compared with the ring-shaped connector in the prior art, there is no eccentricity problem caused by the mutual rotation of the connectors after assembly. The plate-shaped connection structure is more stable.

[0019] The crossbeam in this application is a finger-proof beam, which has the effect of preventing finger contact. When a user's finger is inserted from the mating end of the connector, it will not directly contact the connector of the flexible strip, thereby preventing electric shock. In addition, when the double-row electrical terminals that mate with the connector are inserted, they first pass through the crossbeam before contacting the flexible strip. The crossbeam guides the double-row electrical terminals and can withstand the interaction force at the moment of insertion, thereby preventing the connector of the flexible strip from deforming due to external force and affecting the conductivity.

[0020] The elastic beam of this application can fix the connector of the flexible strip from the top and bottom, preventing the connector from shifting in the direction perpendicular to its insertion direction, thereby achieving good electrical contact. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the flexible energy storage connector of this application.

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible strip with retainer installed according to this application.

[0024] Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of the flexible energy storage connector of this application.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the retainer structure of this application.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the tail cap structure of this application.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connector housing of this application.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the socket assembly and flexible strip in the prior art.

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible connector in the prior art.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a flexible connector in the prior art.

[0031] The components are as follows: 1. Plug housing; 2. Retainer; 3. Sealing ring; 4. Tail cap; 5. Flexible strip; 6. Locking mechanism; 11. Socket; 12. Crossbeam; 13. Elastic beam; 131. Elastic buckle; 14. Tail buckle; 51. Connector; 52. Groove; 21. Plate clamp unit; 22. Snap protrusion; 23. Snap groove; 24. Limiting hole; 41. Elastic sidewall; 411. Tail cap snap hole; 42. Sleeve section; 71. Socket terminal; 72. Housing 1; 73. Housing 2; 74. Adapter terminal; 75. Pressure cap; 76. Anti-touch finger rod; 77. Tail cap; 78. Sealing ring; 1311. Locking straight surface; 1312. Guide slope. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only for descriptive purposes and to distinguish similar objects; there is no order between them, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, this application discloses a flexible energy storage connector, comprising: a plug housing 1 with a through-hole 11, wherein a transverse beam 12 is fixed on the inner wall of the through-hole 11; a flexible busbar 5, wherein the two ends of the flexible busbar 5 form connectors 51; and a retainer 2 fixed on the connectors 51; wherein the connectors are plate-shaped, and one of the inner wall of the through-hole 11 and the outer wall of the retainer 2 is provided with an elastic buckle 131, and the other is provided with a limiting groove 24; when the connector 51 is inserted from back to front into the through-hole 11 and is fully inserted, the elastic buckle 131 engages with the limiting groove 24 to restrict the connector 51 from moving backward, and the beam 12 is located directly in front of the connector, with the connector 51 abutting against the beam 12. The retaining member 2 includes two clamping units 21 that are interlocked vertically. The two clamping units are interlocked and fixed to the connector by a matching concave-convex structure. The two limiting grooves 24 are respectively provided on the two clamping units 21. The elastic buckle 131 is provided on the inner wall of the insertion hole, and the elastic buckle 131 is configured to be able to disengage from the limiting groove 24 when pried.

[0035] The insertion hole 11 is provided with two horizontally extending and vertically arranged elastic beams 13. The elastic buckle 131 is provided on the elastic beams 13. The elastic buckle 131 has a guide slope facing the insertion direction and a locking straight surface facing the withdrawal direction. When the connector 51 is inserted into the insertion hole 11 from the rear and enters between the two elastic beams 13, the guide slope of the elastic buckle 131 contacts and is squeezed by the retainer 2, causing the elastic beams 13 to undergo elastic deformation. When the connector 51 is inserted into place, the elastic beams 13 return to their original position, and the elastic buckle 131 is engaged in the limiting groove 24 of the retainer 2. The locking straight surface abuts against the edge of the limiting groove 24 to restrict the connector 51 from moving backward.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the connector 51 has a groove 52, and the retaining member 2 is engaged within the groove 52. Figure 4As shown, the two sides of the connector 51 are recessed inward to form the groove 52. Each plate clamping unit 21 has a locking protrusion 22 and a locking groove 23 on its two sides. The upper and lower plate clamping units 21 are connected by the mutual engagement of the locking protrusion 22 and the locking groove 23. The locking protrusion 22 and the locking groove 23 are both accommodated in the groove 52.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the crossbeam 12 of this application is a finger-proof beam, which has the effect of preventing finger contact. When a user's finger is inserted from the mating end of the connector, it will not directly contact the connector 51 of the flexible strip 5, thereby preventing electric shock. In addition, when the double-row electrical terminals that mate with the connector are inserted, they first pass through the crossbeam and then contact the flexible strip. The crossbeam guides the double-row electrical terminals and can withstand the interaction force at the moment of insertion, thereby preventing the connector of the flexible strip from deforming due to external force and affecting the conductivity.

[0038] like Figure 5 and 6 As shown, the flexible strip 5 is also fitted with a sealing ring 3 and a tail cap 4. The tail cap 4 covers the tail of the plug housing 1, and the sealing ring 3 is pressed between the plug housing 1 and the tail cap 4. The tail cap 4 includes a limiting part 42 fitted outside the flexible strip and an elastic sidewall 41 disposed on the outer periphery of the limiting part 42. The elastic sidewall 41 has a tail cap locking hole 411. The outer wall of the plug housing 1 is provided with a tail buckle 14. When the tail cap is closed on the tail end of the plug housing 1, the limiting part 42 is inserted into the socket 11, the elastic sidewall 41 is located outside the outer wall of the connector 51 housing, the tail buckle 14 is engaged in the tail cap locking hole 411, and the sealing ring 3 is pressed between the elastic beam 13 and the front end of the limiting part 42. The elastic beam 13 can fix the connector 51 of the flexible strip from the top and bottom, preventing the connector 51 from shifting in the direction perpendicular to its insertion direction, thereby achieving good electrical contact.

[0039] The flexible flat cable connector of the present invention first pre-installs the tail cap 4 onto the flexible flat cable 5, then pre-installs the sealing ring 3 onto the heat shrink tubing of the flexible flat cable 5, and then clamps the retainer 2 onto the connector 51 of the flexible flat cable 5, forming an integral pre-installed module. During assembly, simply push the module into the socket 11 of the plug housing 1 to complete the installation, improving assembly efficiency. When disassembly is required, simply pry the elastic buckle 131 to disengage it from the limiting hole 24 on the retainer 2, and the flexible flat cable assembly 5 can be pulled out of the plug housing 1, enabling multiple reuses.

[0040] like Figure 1As shown, in this invention, the insertion direction of the connector is defined as forward, and the withdrawal direction of the connector is defined as backward. The direction perpendicular to the paper is defined as horizontal, and the directions perpendicular to the forward / backward direction and the horizontal direction are defined as up / down directions.

[0041] The above-described embodiments are merely preferred embodiments provided to fully illustrate the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention are all within the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A flexible busbar type energy storage connector, characterized in that, include, The plug housing (1) is provided with a through-hole (11) and a transverse beam (12) is fixed on the inner wall of the through-hole (11). A flexible board (5) has connectors (51) formed at both ends. The retainer (2) is fixed to the connector (51); The connector is plate-shaped, and one of the inner wall of the insertion hole (11) and the outer wall of the retainer (2) is provided with an elastic buckle (131), while the other is provided with a limiting groove (24). When the connector (51) is inserted into the insertion hole (11) from back to front and is in place, the elastic buckle (131) is engaged in the limiting groove (24) to restrict the connector (51) from moving backward, and the crossbeam (12) is located in front of the connector.

2. The flexible energy storage connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector (51) abuts against the crossbeam (12).

3. The flexible energy storage connector according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member (2) includes two clamping units (21) that snap together, the two clamping units are snapped together and fixed to the connector by a matching concave-convex structure, the two limiting grooves (24) are respectively disposed on the two clamping units (21), the elastic buckle (131) is disposed on the inner wall of the socket, and the elastic buckle (131) is configured to be able to disengage from the limiting groove (24) when pried.

4. The flexible busbar type energy storage connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insertion hole (11) is provided with two horizontally extending and vertically arranged elastic beams (13), and the elastic buckle (131) is provided on the elastic beam (13). The elastic buckle (131) has a guide slope (1312) facing the insertion direction and a locking straight surface (1311) facing the withdrawal direction. When the connector (51) is inserted into the socket (11) from the rear and enters between the two elastic beams (13), the guide slope of the elastic buckle (131) contacts and is squeezed by the retainer (2), causing the elastic beam (13) to undergo elastic deformation. When the connector (51) is inserted into place, the elastic beam (13) returns to its original position, and the elastic buckle (131) is engaged in the limiting groove (24) of the retainer (2). The locking straight surface (1311) abuts against the edge of the limiting groove (24) to restrict the connector (51) from moving backward.

5. The flexible busbar type energy storage connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connector (51) is provided with a groove (52), and the retainer (2) is engaged in the groove (52).

6. The flexible busbar energy storage connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The grooves (52) are formed by the inward recesses on both sides of the connector (51). Each clamping unit (21) has a latching protrusion (22) and a latching groove (23) on both sides of its lateral direction. The upper and lower clamping units (21) are connected by the interlocking of the latching protrusion (22) and the latching groove (23). Both the card protrusion (22) and the card slot (23) are accommodated within the groove (52).

7. The flexible busbar energy storage connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The flexible strip (5) is also fitted with a sealing ring (3) and a tail cap (4). The tail cap (4) covers the tail of the plug housing (1), and the sealing ring (3) is squeezed between the plug housing (1) and the tail cap (4).

8. The flexible busbar energy storage connector according to claim 7, characterized in that, The tail cap (4) includes a limiting part (42) sleeved on the outside of the flexible tube, and an elastic sidewall (41) disposed on the outer periphery of the limiting part (42). The elastic sidewall (41) is provided with a tail cap latch hole (411). The outer wall of the plug housing (1) is provided with a tail buckle (14). When the tail cap is closed on the tail end of the plug housing (1), the limiting part (42) is inserted into the socket (11), the elastic sidewall (41) is located outside the outer wall of the connector (51) housing, the tail buckle (14) is engaged in the tail cap buckle hole (411), and the sealing ring (3) is squeezed between the elastic beam (13) and the front end of the limiting part (42).

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